Recommended Reading/Videos - under construction - please check back frequently!

Behavior Modification

How to Get Your Dog To Stop Barking (Humane Society)

Handling On-lead Aggression (Suzanne Clothier)

How to Calm Your Dog by Playing Tug

Train Your Dog to Be Calm with Your Cat (YouTube clicker training video)

How to Put an End to Counter-Surfing (Karen Pryor Clicker Training)

Desensitization and Counter conditioning (ASPCA)

Dog Reactivity: Desensitization, BAT and CAT

Position Statement on the Use of Punishment for Behavior Modification in Animals (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior)

Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in the Behavior Modification of Animals (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior)

8 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Train Your Dog Using a Spray Bottle

Fence Fighting: the Power of Premack (Sarah Owings)

How Do I Manage My Dog's Barrier Frustration? (Mikkel Becker)

Treatment of Food Aggression is About Finesse, Not Force (Dr. Sophia Yin)

Behavior Problems

Ten Reasons Your Dog May Develop Behavior Problems (Sarah Fulcher)

Study Suggests Human Behavior, Not Dog Breed Predicts Aggression

Dogs Who Are Reactive on Leash (ASPCA)

Poisoned Cues: The Case of the Stubborn Dog (Rebecca Lynch)

Barking (ASPCA)

The ABCs of Barking (Karen Pryor Clicker Training)

Keeping Dogs in Crates Can Literally Drive Them Crazy

Canine Aggression (MIlford Animal Hospital/Dr. Karen Overall)

How to Break Up A Dog Fight Safely and Prevent Them From Happening (ASPCA)

Compulsive Behavior in Dogs (ASPCA)

Can Dogs Have Obsessive Compulsive Disorders? (Dr. Lisa Radosta)

Redirected Aggression and Barrier Frustration

Dog Aggression is Predicted by Training Methods and Breed (Dr. Stanley Coren, Psychology Today)

Experts Say Dominance-based Dog Training Techniques Made Popular by Television Can Contribute to Dog Bites (Dr. Sophia Yin)

What an Aggressive Dog Says About its Owner

Is Your Dog Extra-Sensitive to Sounds?

Mounting and Masturbation (ASPCA)

Why Dogs Hump (Dr. Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today)

What to do About Your Humping Dog (Jolanta Benal)

Dog Mounting and Dog Dominance Behavior (Pat Miller, Whole Dog Journal)

Humping (Julie Hecht, The Bark)

Why Are Dogs Given Up?

Breed Specific Behavior and Legislation

Position Statement on Breed-Specific Legislation (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior)

Pit Bulls: Are They Really More Aggressive?

Pit Bulls Pass ATTS Temperament Test with 86.4%

Chained Dogs

The Truth About Chained Dogs

A Trend to Ban 24/7 Chaining (Animal Law Coalition)

HSUS Applauds Dog Bite Prevention Resolution

Chews and Treats

Where's the Beef? Why Your Dog Should Never Eat Another Milk-Bone or Beggin Strip, and You Should Avoid the Slim-Jims

Toxic Treat: Diseased, Irradiated Ears & Sharp Enough to Put a Hole in a Tire

The Dangers of Rawhide Chew Toys (The Bark)

The Most Dangerous Pet Chew Ever: Rawhide!

Rawhide: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Finding the Right Rawhide Chew for Your Dog (Whole Dog Journal)

Bully Sticks, Pig Ears or Rawhide: Which is Best for Dogs?

Are Bones Safe for Dogs?

Bones Can Kill Your Dog - Find Out Which Ones Are Safe (Dr. Karen Becker)

Raw Bones or Cooked - Are Either Safe for Your Dog?

6 "Dental Health" Products Your Dog Shouldn't Chew On (Dr. P. Khuly)

Low Fat Kong Stuffing (Laurie Luck)

Clicker Training

History of Clicker Training (Karen Pryor)

Click vs.Voice (Karen Pryor)

Why Can't I Just Use My Voice? (Karen Pryor)

Clicker Bridging Stimulus Efficacy (Karen Pryor Clicker Training)

Clicker vs. Traditional Training: What's the Real Difference? (Karen Pryor)

Should You Use No Reward Markers? Examining the Debate (Laura VanArendonk Baugh)

Clicker Training FAQ (Karen Pryor Clicker Training)

101 Things to Do with a Box (Karen Pryor)

5 Steps to Teach Your Dog to 'Go to Place' (Karen Pryor Clicker Training)

Daycare

Daycare for Dogs (ASPCA)

Dog Anatomy & Physiology

Why Do Dogs Have Whiskers? (Dr. Stanley Coren)

No, A 'Dog Year' Isn't Equivalent to 7 Human Years (Business Insider)

Dog Age Calculator (Purina)

Dog Anatomy from Head to Tail

Dog Behavior

Modern Animal Behavior (Dr. Jim Ha)

Social Behavior in Dogs (Merck Manual)

Animal Instincts: Not What You Think They Are (Marc Bekoff)

The Trouble with Drives (Dr. Daniel Estep and Dr. Suzanne Hetts)

Predatory Drift Revisited (Dr. James Ha)

Behavior Differences Between Smaller and Larger Dogs (Dr. Stanley Coren)

Urine Marking (ASPCA)

Can Dogs Learn Word Meanings by Just Watching and Listening? (Dr. Stanley Coren)

Why do Some Dogs Tilt Their Heads When We Talk to Them? (Dr. Stanley Coren, Psychology Today)

Dog Body Language

Canine Body Language (ASPCA)

Stress Signs in Dogs

Does Your Dog Really Want to be Petted? (video)

Dominance and Pack Leadership

Are Dogs Pack Animals? (Jean Donaldson)

Whatever Happened to the Term, Alpha? (Dr. L. David Mech, International Wolf Center)

"Alpha" wolf? (Dr. L. David Mech)

Dogs: A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution by Drs. Raymond and Lorna Coppinger (Marc Bekoff, The Bark)

Experts Say Using Dominance-Based Dog Training Techniques Made Popular by Television Shows Can Lead to Dog Bites (Dr. Sophia Yin)

American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) Position Statement on Dominance Theory in the Behavior Modification of Animals

Dominance in Domestic Dogs - Useful Construct or Bad Habit? (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior)

Why Won't Dominance Die? (Association of Pet Behavior Counsellors)

Alpha Schmalpha (Dr. Patricia McConnell)

The Dominance Controversy (Dr. Sophia Yin)

What "Alpha Rolling" Is Really Doing to Your Dog

Using Dominance to Explain Dog Behavior is Old Hat (ScienceDaily 2009)

De-Bunking the "Alpha Dog" Theory (Pat Miller, The Bark)

Do Your Homework on Gentle Methods Trainers (Dr. Andrew Leuscher, DVM, PhD, DACVB)

Dumbed Down by Dominance:  Part I (Dr. Karen Overall)

Dumbed Down by Dominance: Part II (Dr. Karen Overall)

Letting Your Dog Sleep on Your Bed With You (Pat Miller)

Exercise

How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need? (Dr. Susan O'Dell)

Exercise for Dogs (ASPCA)

How Much Exercise is Too Much for My Puppy? (Dr. Vivian Carroll)

How Much Exercise is Too Much for a Puppy? (Dr. Patty Khuly)

The Post-Workout Cool Down for Your Dog

Find a Trainer or Behaviorist

Finding Professional Help (ASPCA)

Find a Certified Behavior Consultant (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior)

How to Hire a Dog Trainer (American College of Veterinary Behaviorists)

How to Choose a Trainer (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior)

Harnesses

Harnesses (Dr. Christine Zink)

Front-clip Harnesses (Dr. Christine Zink, Whole Dog Journal)

Health

Purina Weight Chart

Obesity in Golden Retrievers

Chiggers in Dogs (Drs. Foster and Smith)

Invisible Fences

Simply Shocking (Pat Miller, Whole Dog Journal)

Notes From a Dog Walker (Jessica Dolce)

2-Year Old Killed by Neighbor's Dogs Contained by Invisible Fence

Dog that Attacked 5-Year Old Believed to have Broken Through Invisible Fence

Why I Really Hate Electronic Shock (Invisible) Fences (Pamela Dennison)

Why an Electronic Containment Fence is Not Acceptable (Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League)

Neutering and Spaying

Spayed or Neutered Dogs Live Longer (University of Georgia)

Sexual Behavior in Dogs (Dr. Nicholas Dodman)

Testosterone Levels in Dogs

Dog Behavior and Training - Neutering and Behavior (VCA Animal Hospitals)

Benefits of Castration in Male Dogs (Purdue University)

New Research That Raises Questions About Current Neutering Recommendations (Nancy Kay, DVM)

Is Vasectomy A Reasonable Alternative to Traditional Castration for Dogs? (Patty Khuly, VMD)

A New Nonsurgical Way to Neuter Male Dogs (Vetstreet/Dr. Nancy Kay)

Nutrition

Understanding Pet Food Labels (Ohio State University)

Pet Food Labels (FDA)

The Truth About Corn in Dog Food (Pet Food Advisor)

Dry Food Basis: A Better Way to Compare Dog Foods

Purina Body Condition Tool

Dog Food Calculator: How Much Food Should You Feed Your Dog?

Popular Dog Food Calorie Counts

The Importance of Water in Pet Nutrition (PetMD)

The Quality of Pet Food Ingredients, Part I (video, Dr. Karen Becker)

The Quality of Pet Food Ingredients, Part II (video, Dr. Karen Becker)

The Best and Worst Foods for Your Pet (video, Dr. Karen Becker)

Foods that are Hazardous to Dogs (ASPCA)

Pros and Cons of Feeding a Raw Diet (Dr. Kate KuKanich)

11 Human Foods Dogs Can Eat and 5 They Shouldn't

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog (Drs. Foster & Smith)

Why Free-Feeding is the Wrong Choice For Most Dogs

The Dog Food Project: Label Information 101

Grain-free Pet Food Trend a Hoax?

Is a Grain Free or Gluten Free Diet Right for My Dog? (Lori Huston, DVM)

Why Dog Food is Not for Cats...and Vice Versa

Why You Should Not Take Nutrition Advice From a Pet Store

Dogs Are Omnivores and Should be Fed as Such (Dr. Roger Welton)

Company Researches 2,200 Dog Food Formulas and Finds Only 119 to be Satisfactory

Water - Your Dog's Most Neglected Daily Nutrient

Puppy Mills

10 Signs That A Puppy is From A Puppy Mill

Puppy Mill Red Flags - Don't be an Accidental Supporter

Puppy Training

Position Statement on Puppy Socialization (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior)

Open Letter from Dr. R.K. Anderson to Veterinary Colleagues on Puppy Socialization

Socializing Your Puppy (ASPCA)

Puppy Socialization: Stop Fear Before Starts (Dr. Sophia Yin)

Producing Behaviorally Sound Dogs (Dr. Ed Bailey)

Improper Puppy Socialization and Subsequent Behavior (Iowa State University)

Roundtable Discussion on the Risks and Benefits of Early Socialization for Puppies

New Perspectives on Canine Socialization: Why, When and How? (Dr. Theresa DePorter)

Different Dog Breeds, Different Sensitivity Period?

Potty Pad Training Your Dog

Puppy Personality Development (Dog Star Daily)

How to Survive Puppy Mouthing and Teething (Casey Lomonaco)

Got Puppy Nipping? Try the Clicker Approach (Karen Pryor)

Bite Inhibition Training (Karen Pryor)

Safety

Dog Collars & Asphyxiation

10 Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

Holiday Pet Safety Tips (ASPCA)

Plants Toxic to Dogs (ASPCA)

Service Dogs

Why Natural Behaviors Aren't Trained Service Dog Tasks

Training Methods & Tools

Dog Training Methods: Their Use, Effectiveness and Interaction with Animal Behaviour and Welfare

Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior)

Position Statement on the Use of Punishment in Behavior Modification of Animals (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior)

If You're Aggressive, Your Dog Will Be Too Says Veterinary Study

Survey of the Use and Outcome of Confrontational and Non-confrontational Training Methods in Client-owned Dogs Showing Undesired Behavior

Myth: Positive Training is Permissive

The use of electronic collars for training domestic dogs: estimated prevalence, reasons and risk factors for use, and owner perceived success as compared to other training methods (BMC Veterinary Research)

Effects of 2 training methods on stress-related behaviors of the dog (Canis familiaris) and on the dog-owner relationship (Journal of Veterinary Behavior)

Effectiveness of Rewards and Punishments in Dog Training (Dr. Stanley Coren)

A Punished Dog is an Aggressive Dog (Dr. Stanley Coren, Psychology Today)

Position Statement: Humane Training Methods for Dogs (Canadian Veterinary Medical Association)

A Surprising Look At Balanced Training (Laurie Luck)

10 Prejudices Owners Have Against Clicker Training That Are Wrong

Gentle Leader Head Collar: Reinforcement or Punishment? (Dr. Sophia Yin)

Should You Use A Squirt Bottle to Train Your Dog?

Should You Use No Reward Markers? Examining the Debate (Karen Pryor Clicker Training)

Pros and Cons for Barking Devices for Dogs

Rattlesnakes and Dogs - What to Do (Nan Arthur)

Electric Fences Safe and Ethical?

Are Shock Collars Painful or Just Annoying to Dogs? (Discussion of 2004 study by Dr. Sophia Yin)

An Open Letter from Dr. Karen Overall Regarding the Use of Shock Collars

The Use of Electric Collars Training Domestic Dogs: Estimated Prevalence, Reasons and Risk Factors for Use and Owner Perceived Success as Compared to Other Training Methods

The Welfare Consequences and Efficacy of Training Pet Dogs with Remote Electronic Training Collars in Comparison to Reward Based Training

The Unintended Consequences of Shock Collars

Aversive or Punishment? (Karen Pryor)

Training Police Dogs and Military Dogs Using Positive Methods (Whole Dog Journal)

Training Problems & Tips

What Are Some Common Myths About Dog Training? (APDT)

Why Do Trainers Use Food in Training? (APDT)

Hungry Dogs and Dog Training

How Often Should I Train My Dog?

The Relationship Between Number of Training Sessions Per Week and Learning in Dogs (Applied Animal Behavior Science)

What Kind of Training Schedule Works Best for Dogs? (Psychology Today discussion of research published in Applied Animal Behavior Science)

Tips for Training Sight and Scent Hounds

Impulse Control Training and Games for Dogs (ASPCA)

Beyond Fetch: Fun Games You Can Play With Your Dog

Rattlesnakes and Dogs: What to Do (Nan Arthur)

Everything You Wanted to Know About Proofing -- But Were Afraid to Ask (Casey Lomonaco)

Stay Until Released (Helix Fairweather)

Poisoned Cues: The Case of the Stubborn Dog (Rebecca Lynch)

The Poisoned Cue: Positive and Negative Discriminative Stimuli (Karen Pryor)

Preparing Your Dog for a New Baby (ASPCA)

Introducing Your Pet and New Baby (HSUS)

Wolves and Wolf Hybrids

Types of Wolves (International Wolf Center)

Wolf Hybrids: The Best of Both Worlds...Or Not? (Dr. Sophia Yin)

Wolf-Dog Hybrids (International Wolf Center)